If they weren’t, the Kansas football players would have had a season’s worth of ideas after participating with local special needs kids during Saturday’s Hannah and Friends Football Clinic on Saturday morning at KU's Anschutz Sports Pavilion.

“They were doing the stanky leg, the Dougie. They were doing all kinds of dances that I haven’t perfected yet,” KU senior receiver Nick Harwell said.

During one round of drills, buck lineman Victor Simmons was taught the “Tebow” celebration by one participant before taking part in the “surfboard” with another little girl.

Safety Cassius Sendish was also treated to “The Sprinkler” and even cartwheels by some of the kids.

“I could try to imitate, but it wouldn’t be as good,” Sendish said with a smile.

It was the second year for the clinic, which was put on by the Hannah and Friends Organization originally founded by Maura Weis, who is the wife of KU football coach Charlie Weis. Their daughter, Hannah, is the inspiration for the nonprofit organization that began in 2003.

From a quick glance, Maura could tell that the KU football players were more comfortable this year with the Special Olympics and Inclusion Connection participants.

“Last year, in the beginning, they were kind of thinking they were fragile. You don’t know,” Maura said. “I think they realize (they need to) just blow it out, have a great time with them and let them enjoy themselves, and that’s what’s really going on.”

The kids moved from station to station, where they worked with KU’s players on blocking, passing, catching, running and even kicking.

“What people don’t realize sometimes is a lot of times that kids with special needs or different abilities, they’re home and they have no friends. These kids might not be doing anything today,” Maura said. “But now, they’re here, they have stories to tell, they’re playing with the players, they’re seeing coach Weis, and they’re just having a blast.

“They’re doing what every other kid’s doing on a Saturday.”

From experience, Maura also knows the players get a lot out of the time as well. Sendish held a picture taken with his teammates at the event, saying he was going to put it on his dresser to remind him of the day.

“I know with my daughter and the experiences that we’ve had with kids with special needs, they give back so much more,” Maura said. “They’re the greatest teachers on the planet.

“I think our players see that. I definitely do.”

HEAPS STILL IN THE LEAD — Charlie Weis opened the first part of Saturday’s practice to media members, and much of the first team on offense was as expected.

Senior Jake Heaps was taking the first-string reps at quarterback, followed by sophomores Montell Cozart and T.J. Millweard. At running back, senior Brandon Bourbon was first in line, followed by junior Darrian Miller and senior Taylor Cox.

Junior-college transfer Keyon Haughton appears to be in the lead for the starting center position, as he took first-string reps there. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Haughton transferred to KU from Georgia Military College.